Very often in garden plots you can find a beautiful evergreen ornamental plant with sword-shaped leaves and delicate inflorescences, delighting its owners with long-term flowering. This is a garden yucca - a resident of tropical countries, which has taken root well in the middle zone with cool climatic conditions. There are several dozen varieties of this unpretentious plant, each of which has its own characteristics of care. Having learned some of the secrets of planting and growing yucca, every gardener will be able to decorate their plot with this original and beautiful plant.
Soil for yucca
Yucca is a false palm that is increasingly grown not only indoors, but also in open ground.
Filamentous yucca and other garden varieties delight not only with their exotic appearance and foliage, but also with abundant flowering. Yucca has only one fundamental requirement for soil: it must allow water to pass through well. The soil can be neutral or acidic (pH 5.5 - 7.5), it can even be poor and not be renewed for 2 - 3 years (for adult plants), and, in principle, you can do without fertilizing.
Additionally, they provide drainage (broken brick, expanded clay, gravel, etc.) at the bottom of the container - up to ¼ of the height of the pot, because the roots of the yucca are not too deep.
Of the purchased substrates, the one for palms and dracaenas is suitable, but add drainage (dracaenas require much more moist soil).
Of course, it is advisable to accustom plants to such a substrate gradually, but it will definitely prevent excessive moisture of the roots, which so often destroys yucca.
pot , not a couple of centimeters larger than the previous one, and it should be 2 times larger in diameter than in height. In general, this plant prefers large but shallow containers.
Replanting is usually carried out by transferring it into a new container, and adding new soil around the perimeter of the pot. However, if the plant is sick and there is a suspicion of root rot, it is better to remove the old substrate completely. To do this, the roots are soaked in water at room temperature for no more than 1 hour.
the root collar when replanting, maximum 1–2 cm and cover this layer with perlite. If the plant has become too elongated and a long piece of the stem is exposed, it is better to cut (saw) it in half: the top can be rooted in water or wet sand under a glass jar, and the dormant buds will soon wake up on the “stump” and new shoots will appear. One thing to remember is that if the main stem is cut it will not grow back - branching will start at this level all year round, so don't leave it too short.
Feeding may not be carried out at all, or from March to August, or only during the flowering period. Fertilize yucca once every 3 weeks, alternating organic (infusion of mullein or horse manure, leaf humus, peat oxidate) and complex mineral fertilizers. It is not advisable to apply mineral fertilizers at the root with solutions - either spray the underside of the leaves, reducing the concentration by half, or apply granular minerals - they slowly dissolve and constantly feed the plant a little bit. The desired ratio of elements of the NPK complex is 3:1:2.
For outdoor plants, it will be enough not to remove fallen leaves around the bush or mulch the soil with leaf fall in the fall - it will rot over the winter, at the same time protecting the yucca from the cold, and by summer it will turn into an excellent fertilizer.
If your soil is still too heavy for yucca and you have flooded it too much, you can dry the soil faster like this: insert several plastic cocktail tubes into the pot, deepening them to the middle of the pot. And until the next change of soil, you can leave them there, cutting off the excess - they will make up for the lack of drainage.
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Yucca diseases
A palm tree that receives good care rarely gets sick. Only if handled incorrectly can a bacterial burn or rotting of the trunk or leaves occur. Sometimes the plant turns yellow, but this may be a natural process of development and growth of the palm tree, during which it gets rid of excess leaves. If yellow elliptical spots appear on the flower, which gradually become brown, this indicates the presence of brown spotting.
In winter, the death of a flower is often caused by excessive watering or very low temperatures. As a result of the huge amount of moisture, pests can appear on the flower: thrips, scale insects, spider mites, aphids or caterpillars. If the plant is already affected, you need to remove the cause of the weakening and treat the flower with insecticides, strictly following the instructions. Owners of evergreen beauty often have questions about how to combat various diseases, but before treatment you should study all existing yucca diseases:
- Rot caused by Fusarium fungi. During the disease, the crown is affected, the leaves are susceptible to rot. At the initial stage of the disease, you need to remove the diseased parts of the tree and spray with a fungicide solution.
- Cercospora blight. Oval brown spots appear on the surface of the leaves. With high humidity, the disease can progress. To eliminate the disease, you should reduce watering, do not spray for several days, remove infected stems, and treat the palm tree with a fungicide. Mineral fertilizers should be used for feeding.
- White rot of yucca. The leaves of the plant that are close to the ground are most damaged by this disease. When affected, they become discolored and watery. To get rid of the disease, remove the affected tissue and treat with systemic fungicides (Fundazol, Rovral).
We grow garden yucca at the dacha, planting and caring for which is simple
The plant, which naturally occurs in the subtropical and tropical zones of the American continent, despite its exotic appearance, turned out to be not so capricious. Accustomed to the arid semi-desert climate with sharp temperature changes, yuccas were able to acclimatize even in the middle zone. True, bearing only minor frosts in the open ground, plants need good shelter for the winter. And in the southern regions of the country they are often grown without any restrictions. Two types are suitable for planting and caring for yucca in open ground. They are Yucca filamentosa, so named because of the long fibers that hang from the edges of the tough foliage, and Yucca gloriousa. The first type predominates in Russian plantings because it is more winter hardy.
When to open yucca in spring
The winter shelter is removed from the plant with the onset of warm weather. In the middle climate zone, this is the second or last ten days of March. If the air temperature warms up during the day and the nights are quite cool, it is better to open the plant only during daylight hours. When the daily air temperature stabilizes and the likelihood of frost decreases, the plant can be opened completely. Often, most gardeners do this in early April.
How to plant yucca?
Yucca is unpretentious and hardy. It is not afraid of drought, heat and wind, but the plant’s main enemy is waterlogging and heavy soils, where there is a risk of moisture stagnation.
Yucca has no special requirements for soil composition. The main thing is that the roots receive enough air and water does not linger in the soil. Therefore, before planting yucca, in areas with dense black soil or clay, sand is added to the substrate to fill the hole. A drainage layer is needed at the bottom, and to provide nutrition, especially on poor soils, humus is added to the substrate.
Despite the unpretentiousness of the culture, it will not be possible to do without any care after planting yucca in open ground.
Yucca garden in the fall, how to prepare yucca for wintering
Today, there are many varieties of garden yucca, which normally tolerate lower air temperatures during the cold season. But in order to reduce the risk of plant death, especially if it has recently appeared on your site, you should take care of reliable insulation:
- Gather the leaves of the plant into a bunch and carefully tie it with twine, starting from the base of the bush and ending with the top.
- Wrap the plant with film, securing it at the base.
- To protect the roots, sprinkle 10-15 cm of soil at the base of the bush.
- On top of an earthen rampart in the northern regions, it is better to insulate the plant with spruce branches or dry leaves, which must be removed with the arrival of spring warming.
How to care for a garden yucca flower?
After planting, the plants need very moderate watering, sanitary treatment, which consists of removing dead foliage and faded flower stalks, rare fertilizing and pruning.
Watering is carried out at the root, trying not to flood the core of the rosette, since water remaining here for a long time is the main reason for the rotting of the crown and the need for radical pruning of the yucca.
As a rule, garden yucca is rarely affected by pests or diseases and, with good shelter, winters well even in the conditions of the Moscow region.
To ensure that the roots of the plant breathe more actively, and the moisture remaining under the dense rosette does not cause rotting of the lower leaves and roots, the space under the garden yucca is regularly loosened, simultaneously removing weeds and fallen leaf blades. If the location for the crop is initially chosen incorrectly, the plant up to three years of age can be transferred to another, more suitable area.
How to replant yucca? Although the plant is an evergreen crop, its biological processes freeze during the winter, and the new growing season begins only in the spring. This time is used to transplant garden yucca, the care of which in such a situation is sometimes complicated by painful adaptation to a new place of residence. When moving a bush, it is important to try to preserve the entire root system of the plant, preventing it from drying out. To do this, when transplanting, use any means to moderately moisten the roots of the dug out plants.
The transplanted specimens are not fed for about a month, and the remaining yuccas in the garden need to be fertilized in the spring and then in the summer, before flowering and after the inflorescences wither. At 3–4 years old, yuccas bloom for the first time, and the racemose inflorescence remains decorative for about a month. Feeding with complex compounds with a predominance of nitrogen will help maintain the strength of the plant. Fertilizer application is stopped a month before the onset of autumn coolness. This will allow the yucca to prepare for winter and successfully survive frosts.
How to feed yucca in spring
With the onset of spring warmth, the tropical plant begins an active growth phase, which requires additional nutrients. At this stage, it is recommended to fertilize yucca with complex mineral preparations, which are used for succulents.
If the plant was planted in the spring, then fertilizing must be done no earlier than after 14 days. To do this, fertilizers are used that stimulate the growth of the root system and accelerate the adaptation of the plant.
Shelter for garden yucca for the winter
Plants tolerate sudden snow that falls in autumn or spring without loss, the main thing is that it melts within a couple of days. But stable cold and snowless winters are deadly for garden yucca.
First of all, the growth point in the core of the rosette suffers from frost, and then the vegetative root system. A frame shelter, which is a spacious box the height of an adult plant, helps to protect the crop.
Before covering the foliage, the yuccas are collected up and tightly wrapped with strong twine. Then the top of the plant is covered with a box and generously sprinkled with spruce branches or fallen leaves. The entire structure is wrapped with covering material and secured with tape. Checking the stability of the structure. In this form, the plant will spend the winter without any problems, it will be especially comfortable under a layer of snow.
You can remove the frame and remove the foliage when stable positive temperatures arrive. If you are late in “releasing the captive,” there is a danger of mold and mildew appearing due to increased respiration and the beginning of the plant’s growing season inside the confined space.
Types and varieties of yucca
The genus Yucca contains approximately thirty species. All of them grow in Central America. Sixteen species have been cultivated.
Yucca aloefolia . The plant has slightly branched stems with noticeable scars from dead leaves. Aloe yucca becomes palm-like with age. It grows slowly, reaching a height of 8 meters. Its trunk branches. The top of the branches is crowned with plumes of lanceolate leaves up to fifty centimeters long. The leaves are grooved, serrated along the edges, with a spine at the end.
Their weight may cause the trunks to become lodging. To prevent this from happening, the lower leaves are periodically removed. It blooms in summer with white bell-shaped flowers in large, branched inflorescences. Sometimes fruits are set - large, juicy, banana-shaped, green boxes with numerous black seeds. Yucca aloe vera is propagated with seeds, pieces of stems (30 cm) or plant tops. Prefers dry, drained soil.
Yucca fringe . A relatively low, slow-growing plant with a bright yellow stripe along the edge of the leaves. Doesn't bloom. Propagated by rooting crowns. Loves light and dry soil.
Yucca Karlsruisk . Obtained by hybridizing Yucca glaucosa and filamentous. It has no stem. Tufts of grayish leaves are densely arranged. Flowering is annual and abundant. The flowers are showy, large with wavy petals of a creamy color. The fruits do not set. Propagated by root suckers. Like all its relatives, it loves the sun and well-drained dry soils.
Yucca filamentosa . The rhizomatous form of yucca with closely spaced bunches of wide, drooping leaves, with threads peeling off at the edges. The flowers are white, placed on tall peduncles. Blooms in summer. Propagated by division. Tolerates shading. Loves dry fertile lands. Tolerates occasional waterlogging of the soil.
Yucca reflexifolia . A relatively small plant, shaped like a candelabra. The leaves are drooping and have a bluish tint. The inflorescences are low. The color of the flowers is white, large. Flowering period is summer. It reproduces by crowns and stolons growing at the base of the stems. Tolerates shading. Requires moderately moist soils.
Yucca drooping . This variety of yucca has virtually no trunk. Its leaves are bluish and drooping. The flowers are small, white, formed into lush inflorescences. Flowering time is early summer. The method of propagation is vegetative - by rosettes. Prefers dry soils and bright places.
Yucca bluish . Yucca bluish is often mistakenly called filamentous. This is a garden form with high frost resistance. It differs from filamentous yucca in the pubescence of the peduncle and narrower bluish-colored leaves.
Yucca is nice . A short-stemmed form of yucca with wavy sword-shaped leaves edged with a brown stripe. Low inflorescences contain up to 250 large greenish flowers. Spread with the tips of the shoots. Tolerant of shading, but becomes most decorative in the sun. Does not respond to temporary winter waterlogging of the soil.
Yucca Trekulya . Tall yucca with a thick trunk and hard short leaves. White flowers are collected in short inflorescences. Blooms infrequently. Propagated by rosettes. Requires fertile soil and full light.
Yucca grooveta . Natural polyploid. It is distinguished by powerful growth, large leaves, and branching. Tolerates shading. Reproduction is similar to other yuccas.
Yucca ivory . Can reach a height of eight meters. The trunk is thick at the bottom, near the ground, branched at the top. The leaves have a characteristic sword-shaped shape. Their length reaches one meter with a width of only five to eight centimeters. There are teeth along the edges of the leaves and a thorn at the top. White flowers up to eight centimeters long are located on a short peduncle.
Elephant Yucca Care
Lighting: sunny side. Temperature:
- in winter – not lower than 7 °C;
- in summer - 25 °C.
In summer, it is advisable to place yucca in the garden or on a sunny balcony. Full sun after the room is immediately contraindicated. To acclimatize, the yucca is kept in the shade for two weeks or protected from direct sunlight.
Substrate: any light sandy soil.
Transfer. At intervals of once every one to two years. Large plants are transplanted less frequently. If it is difficult due to the size of the tree, remove a five-centimeter thick layer of soil in the pot and replace it with a new one. Transplant time is spring.
Water abundantly, but rarely, only when the top layer of soil in the pot dries out. In winter, watering is careful and limited.
Nutrition: summer feeding.
Reproduction by seed or vegetative:
- “baby” sockets;
- the top of the plant, rooting it in the substrate.
The following garden forms are grown in culture:
- Gigantea - with larger leaves and flowers.
- Moogeapa - distinguished by a panicle inflorescence with many small flowers up to four centimeters long.
How to propagate yucca?
Although, with proper care after planting, garden yucca, as in the photo, blooms, it will not be possible to wait for its seeds in the middle zone.
How to propagate yucca grown in the garden? There are several ways to get young independent plants. Most often, daughter rosettes are used, which form at the base of an adult bush. It is better to take cuttings with an already developed root system. This will speed up acclimatization and enable plants to quickly develop in a new place. Daughter rosettes are easily separated when transplanting garden yucca, and caring for them is no different from what other plants receive. At the same time, do not forget that the cutting areas are most susceptible to all kinds of infections and pest attacks. Therefore, they are dried a little and sprinkled with crushed coal or cinnamon powder.
During spring transplantation, several cuttings from 5 to 10 cm long can be cut from a healthy, strong root. They are treated with coal and planted in a greenhouse, lightly sprinkled with a damp sand-peat mixture. The formation of sprouts in this case occurs due to dormant buds.
Another way to not only rejuvenate a plant that has grown and lost its compactness, but also to propagate exotic guests is pruning. How to make yucca more fluffy and get high-quality planting material?
Yucca pruning
To get side shoots on yucca, you need to cut off the top of the plant. It is advisable to perform this procedure in the spring.
Trimming is done with a sharp knife, having previously been disinfected with alcohol. The sections are sprinkled with crushed charcoal or activated carbon.
The cut top can be rooted as described above.
| Over time, a large plant may develop thinner, as if overstretched, areas on its side shoots. Such shoots need to be cut back to the point where thinning begins. If possible, when pruning a shoot, leave a stump, from which 1 to 3 young shoots will appear. |
How to prune yucca?
It is best to prune the plant in the spring, when it is just freed from its winter shelter. Since yucca has only one growth point, by cutting the stem, the gardener completely stops its vertical development. And yet the life of the flower will not freeze, the buds sleeping on the stem will wake up and give rise to several new rosettes.
Pruning is an excellent way to rejuvenate a flower, obtain strong garden yucca seedlings, and also to save specimens damaged by rot or frost.
Before cutting the yucca, water the plant a couple of days before the operation.
The cut is made with a very sharp, clean knife so that: When the cut areas dry out a little, they, both on the stump and on the top, are treated with fungicide and charcoal powder.
The top of the hemp left to the ground after trimming the yucca can be covered with garden varnish, which will provide long-term reliable protection in the garden.
On an old plant, protected from the scorching sun, newer shoots will appear in 2–3 weeks. If the yucca is strong, 3 to 5 hatched buds are left on the stump. Small specimens will not be able to support the growth of more than two young tips.
The old top is not thrown away, but is used for planting garden yucca, the care of which is little different from the situation when daughter rosettes are transferred to the ground. True, before this the seedling needs to be rooted. It is best to do this in a greenhouse, making sure not to allow condensation to form and ensuring the moderate humidity of the sandy substrate.
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When will yucca bloom?
Garden yucca often blooms 3 years after planting, but under favorable conditions, beautiful inflorescences may appear the next year after rooting. White bells decorate the peduncle for 2-3 weeks, and in some cases for a whole month. For long-term flowering of yucca, it is important to provide favorable conditions - complete fertilizer, sufficient moisture and lighting.
Here is an article so that everyone can plant yucca in a pot!
If the acquisition of an impressive, palm-like tree was not spontaneous, then you most likely studied the information on how to plant a yucca in a pot in advance. But with plants, as with people, unplanned acquaintances happen. And it doesn’t matter how you got it - you got it from the previous owners of the apartment, it was a gift from friends, you bought it on impulse - now you have to take care of it. We suggest you figure out how to do it correctly.
Yucca in open ground, varieties of wintering yucca in open ground
Not so long ago, yucca was grown exclusively in pots, enjoying fresh air only in the warm season, decorating it only on balconies and summer terraces. Over time, the number of varieties increased, and many gardeners began to plant this exotic flower in open soil. Some varieties are quite cold-resistant and can withstand temperatures below 20C. With proper care and shelter, the yucca is not in danger of dying, and with the onset of warmth it again delights passers-by with its snow-white clusters of bells.
Among the most cold-resistant varieties, the following are worth noting:
- Yucca filamentosa;
- yucca glaucous;
- elephant yucca.
Yucca transplantation after transportation
Some people try to replant the plant as soon as they bring it from the store. It is not right. Give it the opportunity to adapt to new conditions - let it stand as is for 7-10 days. During this time, select a container of the right size and buy the appropriate soil.
Choosing the right pot
Measure the diameter of the transport container and take a pot a couple of centimeters larger. The most suitable ratio of diameter and height is 1:2; towards the bottom, the container may narrow slightly, resembling a tulip in shape. Square-shaped flowerpots are also suitable for large palm trees.
Despite the fact that yucca is a large plant, its root system is weak and fibrous in type. The roots are thin, filamentous. If you give too much land, they will not have time to develop it - there is a risk of soil acidification and mold.
The material of the landing container does not matter much. Ceramic (with a glossy surface), plastic, and clay pots are suitable.
What kind of land is needed?
Yucca is undemanding to soil. You can buy a targeted substrate, which is called just that - for yucca and dracaena, with a neutral pH reaction. Or make it yourself. The soil includes (numbers indicate the number of parts):
Wood ash is used as mineral additives - a source of potassium, phosphorus, and other microelements; dolomite flour - reduces the acidity of the substrate.
What kind of soil is needed also depends on the age of the yucca. Young plants prefer a looser and lighter substrate - this task is performed by peat, perlite, and sometimes crushed coconut fiber and sphagnum moss are added to it. Mature palms require a denser, “clay” composition. It contains more turf soil, humus, sand, less peat and other light components.
Landing technology
A few days before transplanting, stop watering the yucca to allow the substrate to dry thoroughly. It is advisable to free the roots from the transport peat mixture by at least a third, or more if possible.
Before planting yucca in a pot, try on the root system. It should fit freely, and there should be a gap of 1–1.5 cm on the sides.
Cover the drainage hole with a convex shard to prevent it from silting up during watering. Place a layer (2-3 cm) of drainage material on the bottom - expanded clay, washed pebbles, large fragments of bark.
You should not water the plant right away - let it sit for 1-2 days. After watering, if the soil settles, add as much as needed. Feeding of the transplanted plant is carried out after 10–14 days, not earlier.
Diseases and pests. Why do the leaves turn yellow?
Yucca diseases
Cercospora blight. Brown spots of various shapes on the leaves. As the disease progresses, they increase in size and become lighter in the middle, remaining brown at the edges. Occurs due to excess moisture.
Control measures. Reducing watering and spraying. If the disease develops, treat with fungicides Fundazol or Topaz.
Brown spotting. The appearance of faded spots on old leaves. Over time, the spots first turn yellow, then brown. After four months, the black mushrooms themselves appear in the center. Often the spots are surrounded by a yellow halo. The disease appears from excess moisture.
Control measures. Limit spraying, especially in wet weather. Affected leaves are removed. Yucca is sprayed with Profit or Ridomil Gold.
Marginal necrosis of leaves. Dying of leaf edges. Usually affects old leaves. The dead fabric is gray-brown in color. Over time, the black fruiting bodies of the fungus appear.
Control measures. Reduce spraying. Affected leaves are destroyed. Yucca is sprayed with Ridomil Gold.
Fusarium. Signs of the disease: rotting of the bases of the leaves, leading to their death. The disease appears and develops with excessive dampness, in wet soil, and with the abuse of fertilizers.
Control measures. Competent agricultural technology. Treatment with Vitaros, Fundazol, Previkur.
White rot. Signs of the disease: damages all parts of the plant, but the lower leaves located near the ground are more often affected. They become discolored and a white coating appears. Appears sharply during sudden temperature changes and temperatures below 12–15℃
Control measures. Fungicides Rovral and Fundazol are used. Severely affected plants are destroyed.
Yucca pests
Spider mite. Usually spreads from the bottom of the leaves. The leaves become pale yellow in color. Whitish spots become visible on the upper side.
Control measures. Acaricides are used.
False shield. Placed on the leaves and trunks of yucca. The flower stops growing, the leaves dry out. Possible death of the plant.
Control measures. Spraying or wiping with Actellik solution (10 drops per 0.5 liters of water).
Planned plant replanting
A planned replanting is carried out if you see that the soil is depleted. It becomes more dense in structure, after watering it begins to silt, and the plant stops (slows down) in development. The size of the pot can be increased or left the same.
You can tell that it’s time to replant the plant by other signs:
Timing and frequency of transplantation
Yucca grows slowly, so it is not often replanted - once every 2-3 years.
The most suitable time for this is the beginning of spring. Around the end of February, the plant comes out of dormancy - the roots begin to more actively absorb nutrients and moisture, and new leaves appear. It is important to correctly guess the moment when these processes are just beginning.
From late October to November, it is better not to touch the yucca. Even if you do not lower the winter temperature to 10–14⁰ C, relative peace still occurs. The roots slow down absorption, the vegetation mass does not grow, and the buds are dormant.
We discussed what kind of soil and pot are needed in the previous section. For planned transplantation, these requirements remain the same.
How to transfer a plant?
If the land is severely depleted, it is better to remove it as much as possible; no, use transshipment. This method allows for less trauma to the root system, it will recover faster, and as soon as you start feeding, it will begin to grow.
Place drainage at the bottom of the planting container and a small layer of soil on top. Place the plant along with the earthen ball in the center, fill the free space with fresh substrate, making sure that there are no air pockets left.
Before planting your yucca in a new pot, carefully inspect the roots. They should be light and elastic. Everything that has turned black, rotted, or become moldy needs to be cut off.
Is it possible to speed up the flowering of yucca
If all care conditions are met, garden yucca can delight you with snow-white tassels as early as next year. To do this, it is necessary to provide it with adequate nutrition with nitrogen fertilizers in the spring, water it in a timely and moderate manner, and also ensure loosening the soil and weeding out weeds that prevent the flow of nutrients to the root system.
To protect the top layer of soil from drying out, which can adversely affect the plant, it is recommended to mulch the soil with peat, or decorative crushed stone if the yucca is part of a rockery or alpine hill.
Transplantation with pruning
This option is used in the following cases:
It is recommended to cut the trunk when it reaches a diameter of 5 cm or more. The cutting height is at least 50 cm from the base. This is done with a sharp pruner or knife in one movement. The cut is dried and then disinfected. To do this, rub it with charcoal or activated carbon, cover it with garden varnish, pour it with melted paraffin - choose what suits you best.
Many people are interested in whether it is possible to trim and immediately plant yucca. Yes, that's exactly what they do.
Planting a trunk with roots
What to do with the top?
The top is also not thrown away. Part of the lower leaves (the bud of a new trunk) is removed from the rosette, the sections are dried and planted for rooting.
A small pot or plastic glass is suitable as a planting container. The soil is prepared lightly - from peat, perlite and sand in equal parts. Before planting, it is slightly moistened.
Until the roots appear, keep the planted top in conditions of high humidity.
How to use the remains of the trunk?
The rest of the trunk is cut into fragments 20–25 cm long and lightly sunk flat into a damp substrate for rooting. Place the dishes with the pieces in an improvised greenhouse, for example, a transparent plastic box, and wait for the axillary buds to awaken.
Yucca propagation
Various methods of propagation are possible for yucca: cuttings (apical and stem), suckers, seeds. Stemless species are propagated by dividing the rhizomes.
It is advisable to propagate domestic yucca by cuttings or suckers (daughter rosettes).
Propagation by cuttings
The best time for cuttings is March - April. Cuttings prepared at this time give roots faster and take root more easily.
For propagation, stem and apical cuttings (tops) are used.
| During rooting, only roots are formed on the apical cuttings, and shoots from dormant buds also begin to grow on the stem cuttings. |
Rules for cutting cuttings
- The optimal cutting length is 10-15 cm.
- The cut can be made at an angle or straight.
- It is important that the cut is smooth, without bark separation, cracks or delamination of the wood . Cuttings that are cut carelessly tend to rot.
Treatment of cuttings before planting
- Dry the sections for 2 hours.
- Treat the sections that will be placed in the soil with a root formation stimulator (Kornevin, Zircon). Yucca takes root reluctantly (yield 50/50), and such treatment increases the likelihood of successful rooting and accelerates root formation by 1-1.5 weeks.
| The rooting agent can be applied to the end of the cutting soaked in water, prepared from it as a solution for soaking, added to the substrate before planting, or added to the water for watering the cuttings. |
Rooting substrate
Loose sterile soil is used as a rooting substrate: a mixture of peat with sand, perlite, vermiculite, you can use ready-made soil for cacti or palm trees.
Apical cuttings
The top with leaves is cut off from the plant and processed as noted above.
The apical cuttings can be rooted in water, into which two whole tablets of activated carbon are placed for disinfection. Rooting vertically in the substrate is also possible.
Stem cuttings
The stem is cut into several parts, each of which should have viable dormant buds. Sections are made along leaf scars - the places where leaves are attached. The material for cuttings needs to be strong, elastic and healthy.
If the cutting has no leaves, you need to mark where it is top and where it is bottom.
Stem cuttings do not root in water; they are rooted in the substrate in two ways: vertically or horizontally.
Vertical rooting
With vertical rooting, the cutting is placed vertically in the substrate, immersing its lower part in the substrate. Both stem and apical cuttings can be rooted vertically.
Horizontal rooting
Only stem cuttings are rooted horizontally; they are buried halfway, and the ends of the cuttings are not buried. With horizontal rooting, both shoots and roots are formed from dormant buds, so one cutting can produce several new plants, which, after successful rooting, are divided and planted in separate pots.
Rules for keeping cuttings
- The substrate must be constantly kept moderately moist. If it is overdried, the cutting will wither and dry out; if it is too damp, it will rot. For rooting, containers with cuttings are placed in a warm place, with a temperature of at least 20-24 degrees. It is good to organize bottom heating for rooting, for example, by placing it on a wooden plank or a thick towel over a radiator.
- The cuttings are covered on top with transparent bags, jars, cut-off plastic bottles, creating high humidity around them. Cuttings are accepted on average after a month. 2 months after successful rooting, new shoots begin to appear on the stem cuttings, and the crown begins to grow on the apical ones.
- When the cuttings are strong enough, they can be planted in pots. For 1-2 weeks after this, they should continue to be kept in the greenhouse, and later the greenhouses should be removed, but not immediately, but gradually accustoming the plants to fresh air.
Mother plant
The mother plant usually produces new shoots after cuttings.
However, sometimes problems can arise with it. The trunk, which does not have leaves, sometimes begins to dry out, and the plant dies after a while. You can try to “reanimate” the barrel by placing it under a bag or plastic bottle.
Reproduction by offspring (daughter rosettes)
Reproduction by offspring is also carried out in the spring (April - May). At this time, not only do the rosettes take root better, but also the cuts on the mother plant heal faster.
The daughter rosette is cut from the mother plant and the cut is treated with crushed coal.
The rosette is buried in loose and sterile soil (peat with sand, perlite, vermiculite, suitable soil for cacti). Further rooting of the offspring is carried out in the same way as rooting of the cuttings.
How to choose a pot for yucca
To ensure that your pet not only develops well, but also becomes an interior decoration, choose a beautiful flowerpot for yucca.
Unlike a pot, it does not have drainage holes and is intended to decorate a nondescript planting container. In addition, in recent years, flowerpots have appeared on sale that perform both technical and decorative functions at the same time.
To decide which pot is needed for your plant, let's look at what manufacturers offer.
In general, yucca is considered one of the most unpretentious large trees that tolerates planting and subsequent transplants well. The main thing is to do it on time and competently.
Source
Feeding yucca
Yucca is fertilized during the active growing season, that is, in spring and summer with an aqueous solution of mineral fertilizers. The frequency of feeding is every two to three weeks. Yucca responds to the addition of organic matter with growth and a healthy appearance. Use humus or a diluted infusion of manure.
Non-root feeding with solutions of complex fertilizers is very effective. In this case, they try to spray the leaves from the underside. Feeding is contraindicated for sick yuccas. You should not fertilize them immediately after transplanting.
What does the flower look like?
Yucca is an evergreen tree-like flower with a low stem, at the top of which there are leaves that look like a panicle. They grow in a spiral, which gives the impression that the flower does not have a stem. Some species grow with a branched stem.
Description of the flower:
At home, the flower reaches a maximum height of no more than 2 m . In this case, the lower leaves gradually fall off and only the apical part remains. In nature, in natural conditions it reaches 4 meters.
The following photo shows what Yucca looks like:
The need for a transfer after the store
Why replant a yucca you just bought at the store? This is necessary for 2 reasons:
- A soft transport pot is not intended for long-term growth and development of a plant, and it is often small;
- Store-bought soil very rarely meets all the standards for growing this plant; usually, before selling, yucca is planted in a mixture of peat and sand, which is not very suitable for it.
There are different opinions about replanting store-bought yucca. Some experts advise replanting the yucca immediately (immediately after purchase) .
Others recommend waiting until early spring and replanting regularly.
However, urgently replanting a newly acquired plant will help avoid many of the problems associated with growing it in unsuitable soil. To do this, you need to choose a new pot and stock up on soil for replanting.
How to grow garden and indoor flowers?
To grow garden yucca or indoor yucca at home, you need to purchase it from a specialized store or collect flower seeds.
Growing Yucca from Seeds:
Yucca is planted in open ground on a plot no earlier than after reaching two years of age.
If you don’t want to wait a long time for yucca to grow from seeds, then you can ask or buy a side shoot from familiar gardeners or friends.
How to grow from a shoot :
Yucca in winter
In autumn and winter, yucca has a dormant period. During this season, for successful wintering, the air temperature should not exceed 8–12 °C. At this time of year, use only warm water for irrigation.
Elevated temperatures, as well as lack of light, have a bad effect on the condition of yucca. Growth of shoots is observed. They become thinner and longer. The leaves turn pale and lose their elasticity. The plant is weakening. This is a favorable moment for pests to appear.
Attention! If it is not possible to provide the yucca with a cool winter, the following must be done:
- In autumn, keep the plant outdoors as long as possible.
- Next spring, expose the plant to the wild as early as possible, providing it with a quiet, secluded place.
- In a protected place, yucca is able to withstand short-term frosts.
Growing indoors and outdoors
Subsequent care for yucca is to provide all the vital conditions for its growth.
Landing
The rules for planting a flower differ slightly depending on which variety is planted - for open ground or in a flower pot.
Planting a shoot in a pot at home:
After this, the pot is placed on the windowsill on the south, east or west side, since the flower loves the sun. In warm weather, in summer, it can be taken outside to the garden, balcony or loggia.
Soil selection
To plant a flower in a pot, purchase a special substrate from a gardening store. Its composition should include peat, sand, and turf soil. The soil is neutral or slightly acidic (pH 5.5 - 7.5) .
Garden yucca grows well in loose soil that is permeable to air, water and rich in nutrients. If there is none, then before planting in the ground, leaf compost or organic humus, turf soil and sand are poured into the hole. Everything is in a 1:1:1 ratio.
Choosing a pot
An important criterion for successfully growing yucca at home is choosing a suitable pot:
Preparation of seeds and seedlings
Seeds are collected in the fall, when the capsule fruits are fully ripened . They are then placed in an airtight container, such as a Ziploc bag. Before planting, the seeds are soaked in warm water and left to germinate for one month.
Preparation of planting material for planting in open ground is carried out in the following way:
Scheme
The distance between flowers and the depth of the hole when planting in open ground depends on the variety of yucca. The leaves of the plant reach a length of 50 cm to 1 m, therefore, so that they do not shade each other, the recommended planting pattern is at least 1 m x 1 m .
How to care: proper watering
For good growth it is necessary to ensure the correct watering regime:
Feeding and fertilizers during care
Caring for yucca at home includes adding timely feeding and fertilizer to the soil.
In spring and summer (active growth), the flower is watered with water-soluble fertilizers with a complex composition intended for indoor plants.
Regularity – once every 15-20 days.
Flowers growing in open ground are fertilized using an organic solution of mullein, bird droppings, and leaf humus. The plant reacts well to granulated horse manure "Orgavit".
Conditions: air humidity
Indoor yucca loves relatively dry air . It develops well and grows at 40-50% indoor humidity. If the readings are higher, it is recommended to reduce watering.
Draft and high humidity can cause flower disease, growth slows down, leaves change color.
Temperature and lighting
The optimal air temperature for growing yucca at home is +20...+22°C.
In the summer, when the readings rise to +25...+30°C and above, the yucca is removed to a cool place. On hot sunny days, it is recommended to shade the flower so that direct rays do not burn the leaves.
Watering the plant
Indoor yucca flowers do not like waterlogging. The frequency of watering depends on various factors: the size of the container, the size of the plant, the composition of the soil, etc. Yucca does not tolerate stagnation of water. In summer, it is watered generously, but only after a 5 cm thick layer of soil has dried. The main indicator of the need for watering is the condition of the soil in the pot. It should dry out. In winter, watering is kept to a minimum. Stagnation of water can cause yucca roots to rot and the plant itself to die.
Yucca reacts very sensitively to air humidity. It should be periodically sprayed with warm boiled water from a spray bottle.
This is interesting! If you run your finger along the edge of a yucca leaf, you can feel the cloves. Yucca drinks water with them. Absorbs moisture from the atmosphere. Therefore, you can spray it at least three times a day. With frequent spraying, yucca is rarely watered.
She herself shows when she needs watering. The top row of yucca leaves always faces upward. The lower ones are bent down. And the middle leaves are mobile - when the soil is wet, they are in a hanging position, and when it dries out, they rise and fold slightly “into a boat.” This is how the plant asks to drink.
To increase air humidity, place the pot with the plant on a tray with wet gravel or moss. To avoid burning the leaves, spraying is not carried out in bright sun.
Attention! To remove dust from a plant, it is enough to give it a warm shower every few months. To do this, you need to wrap the pot in a bag, covering the soil, slightly tilt the plant and use a spray bottle to wash it from all sides. The water may be hot, but not burn your hands.
When and how can I replant?
Yucca is transplanted into another pot at home as needed and as the flower grows, but not more often than once every 1-2 years. This allows:
The procedure is carried out in early spring, rarely in autumn.
For transplantation, the transshipment method is used, it occurs according to the following scheme:
If the plant is healthy, there are no rotten, dry or decayed roots, then it is immediately placed in the center in a new pot. The empty space on the sides and the distance to the edge of the pot are filled with fresh substrate and pressed.
They begin to water the flower only after 2-3 days, in small portions.
It is important not to apply nutritional supplements in the first month after transplantation . If damaged or diseased roots are found, they are cut off with sharp garden pruners. Then the sections are sprinkled with crushed charcoal. After this, they are transplanted into a new pot.
Replanting yucca grown in the garden is rare. Basically, this procedure is carried out to divide the bush if the bush has thickened. In one place, a flower can grow from 15 to 20 years. The time of transplantation is spring or late summer - early autumn.
How to plant a garden flower:
The first complex fertilizing is applied no earlier than after 14-16 days . Water like an adult plant.
Yucca is a beautiful ornamental plant that can grow both at home and in open ground.
Unpretentiousness in care and undemandingness in watering have made the flower popular among gardeners.
What is yucca
Yucca is a genus of evergreen plants belonging to the Agave family, growing in North and Central America. The sword-shaped hard leaves of various yuccas can grow up to 100 cm long, up to 8 cm wide, they form a basal rosette or are often collected in a bunch. Based on the species, the leaf of the plant can be bluish or green, semi-rigid, erect, with smooth or jagged edges. Often the plant is covered with threads, sometimes there are sharp thorns at the tips of the leaves.
During flowering, the yucca palm throws out large peduncles, where many delicate fragrant bells of light shades appear. As a rule, the inflorescences are collected into one large panicle 2.5 m long. At home, the palm tree rarely blooms. The fruit is a dry or juicy capsule. Fiber is extracted from the leaves of some plant species, which is used to make wicker products.
Kinds
The yucca flower is well suited for decorating personal plots, apartments, and is used for the manufacture of medicinal and cosmetic preparations. More than 30 species of palm trees grow in their homeland, often the size of the plants exceeds the trees of the temperate climate of Russia. Flower growers in Europe grow and propagate three ornamental species that perfectly adapt to home conditions and have optimal dimensions for the room. The most popular varieties:
- Elephantis or elephant palm (Yucca elephantipe). The plant got its name because of its thick original stem. The leaves are on top of it, and the trunk gradually becomes bare as it grows. In summer, the tree is decorated with white flowers that look like bells.
- Filamentous (Yucca filamentosa). The plant can withstand up to 20 degrees of frost. Sword-shaped leaves with bright white threads, bent at the top, can reach 60 cm in length. The flower of the filamentous variety has delicate bells up to 7 cm long.
- Aloe leaf (Yucca aloifolia). The palm tree grows slowly and over time begins to take on the shape of a ball. In adult plants, the tree-like stem is well branched; at the ends of the branches there are compacted rosettes of fleshy green leaves.
- Gray (Yucca glauca). The trunk of this flower is short, the leaves are elongated and thin, with light edges. The bells are yellowish or greenish-pale in color. Blue yucca grows normally in the air and withstands drought and moderate frosts well. The leaves can reach 90 cm.
Reproduction methods
Yucca is propagated by seeds, cuttings and part of the trunk.
Seeds
The seeds are sown in a substrate consisting of equal parts of sand, leaf soil and turf, buried by 2-3 cm. The container with the crops is covered with polyethylene and placed in a warm (+25...+30°C) place with bright, diffused lighting, regularly ventilated and watering the soil.
Shoots appear after a month. When 2-3 sheets are formed on them, pick them. Fertilizers are applied 7 days after picking and 2 weeks after that, watering the seedlings with a solution of nitrophoska (1 g per 1 liter of water).
Reference. The planting material is preliminarily scarified - the hard shell of the seeds is slightly damaged with sandpaper for better germination.
Cuttings
This is another common method of propagating flowers at home. Care and replanting of yucca will be as simple as possible, since the planting material quickly takes root and is accepted in the new soil. Segments are cut from the main shoot of the tree. They should have buds that have not yet hatched. The more there are, the better. A prerequisite is cutting off the top. The thing is that the microelements obtained by yucca from the soil go towards the development of the crown. Therefore, while it is there, the shoots will not begin to grow due to nutrient deficiency.
The propagation process by cuttings is as follows:
- The trunk is cut into pieces 12 centimeters long.
- The cuttings are placed in a substrate prepared from equal parts of peat and fine sand.
- Pots with plants are covered with garden film.
The best time to plant cuttings is considered to be the end of April or the beginning of March. As soon as the planting material has accepted and started sprouting, it can be transplanted into larger containers. In order for the trees to grow well, it is necessary to provide proper care to the yucca. What it consists of will be discussed further.
Landing Features
Let's look at this aspect in more detail. Many novice gardeners are interested in how to care for yucca at home. But most of them do not pay enough attention to planting. Despite the fact that there is nothing complicated about this, it is nevertheless important to follow some rules. Palm trees can grow in almost any soil, but soils with neutral acidity are best suited for growing them. Therefore, the best option would be to buy a special substrate in the store intended for growing yucca. You can also make it yourself. To do this, you need to mix 2 parts of leaf and turf soil, as well as 1 part of peat and humus.
The planting container must be of sufficient size and have high sides. It is necessary to make a drainage system at its bottom. It is necessary for water drainage, since excess moisture is detrimental to yucca. In this case, caring for the plant at home will be simpler. The drainage from above is covered with nutritious soil, after which the seedling is placed in the pot and sprinkled with substrate. It is worth noting that it is not recommended to deepen the plant too much. For intensive growth and good development, 3 centimeters will be enough.
How to care for yucca until it takes root properly? No special arrangements are required. Regular watering will be sufficient. But you shouldn't pour it too much. You also need to feed the plant periodically. If you have chosen a variety that has high frost resistance, then after rooting the palm tree can be transplanted into the garden. When keeping a tree outdoors, there is a high chance that it will bloom. But it is necessary to take into account the following important nuances:
- The location for the palm tree should be chosen in such a way that it is well lit and protected from drafts.
- It is best to plant in open ground when the weather is sunny and windless and the thermometer shows 18 degrees.
- Yucca needs nutritious soil. If there is no such thing on your plot of land, then the hole for planting the plant should be at least 50 centimeters deep. It is filled with a mixture of garden soil, peat, humus and river sand.
Yucca flower (care at home is not difficult) is best planted in open ground at the end of spring, when the likelihood of night frosts is completely eliminated, and the temperature outside is consistently at least 7 degrees Celsius. Until this time, the palm tree can be kept indoors or in a greenhouse. It is recommended to harden the seedling first in order to increase its resistance to adverse factors. To do this, approximately 2-3 weeks before transplanting, the pots with trees are taken outside. Start with short time intervals, gradually increasing the duration of stay.
It is not recommended to replant in the fall, especially if you live in a cold region with frosty winters. The tree will not have time to acclimatize and prepare for winter. Even if you prepare good insulation, it will still die.
How to replant yucca at home? This procedure is necessary no more than once every 2 years. If a palm tree has several trunks, then it is better to plant them. This is done using the following technology:
- The trunk together with the rhizome is divided into equal parts.
- The cut areas are treated with charcoal.
- The sprouts are planted in separate containers and watered abundantly.
The plant must first be prepared for replanting. A third of the foliage is removed, and the root system is placed in warm, settled water for several hours. During the work process, you must be extremely careful not to damage the rhizome. Even small breaks can lead to rotting.
If you provide proper care at home, indoor yucca will grow healthy and very beautiful. To do this, it is important to create the most comfortable living conditions. Palm trees have a well-developed root system, so large pots are best for them. The best option is ceramic products that can withstand any load. You can replant at absolutely any time of the year. But experts advise doing this in the spring so that the tree has time to adapt to the new place before going into winter hibernation.
Seed method
This method of propagating yucca (care at home does not require any specialized measures) is used extremely rarely. This is due to the fact that in captivity the plant does not have a flowering period, so it is very difficult to obtain planting material. However, seeds can be found on sale without any problems. But in order to achieve a good percentage of germination and maximum preservation of the characteristics of the mother plants, it is necessary to use only fresh seeds. They are wrapped in damp cloth for a day, after which they are sown in a special substrate. To prepare it, you need to mix peat, turf and leaf soil in equal parts. After sowing, the container is covered with garden film or glass. Shoots will appear in about a month and a half. During this entire time, twice a day, the container is opened slightly for several hours to allow the seedlings to breathe.
First steps after purchasing a plant
The finished sprouts are sealed with wax on one side - this is removed before transplantation, which is done within 2 days.
Planting and caring for a yucca flower after purchase:
- drainage made of fine expanded clay and broken red brick is poured onto the bottom of the pot;
- lay a layer of nutrient soil with sand on top of the drainage, spill the soil, and let it stand for a day;
- remove the wax, place the sprout in a nutrient substrate - ready-made is sold in the store;
- after collecting juices, the sprout is planted in the ground a day later;
- if the plant is sold in a pot, it is replanted by transshipment - together with a lump of earth on the roots;
- sprinkle the yucca with soil, compacting it slightly with a spatula;
- Water moderately to prevent moisture stagnation.
The pot is placed in a dark place and the temperature is maintained at +25 C. During the first 7 days, do not water, spray the leaves with a spray bottle once every three days. Then a permanent location for the container is chosen; The first propagation of yucca is done after 2-3 years.
Types of indoor plants
About 20 plant species are suitable for home cultivation. The most popular species among gardeners are:
Aloe leaf - flower growers like it for its attractiveness and lack of side shoots. Externally, it is a tree-like plant with a lush crown. The leaves are dark green in color, have serrated edges and a single spine at the tip. They are very tough and fibrous, collected into a dense and beautiful rosette. Yucca blooms in summer with beautiful creamy white flowers with a purple tint. The inflorescences look like panicles, and the flowers look like large bells.
Beak-shaped - distinguished by a lush crown and the ability to grow into a large plant at home. The crown of the yucca is strewn with a huge number of sharp, thin, but long leaves with convexities on both sides of the leaf. The leaves are variegated in color: the yellow leaves in the middle are striped with shades of green. In summer, yucca blooms, throwing out a paniculate inflorescence high above the crown, studded with white flowers that are practically odorless.
Yucca elephant - it is often bred for home cultivation because it is used in folk medicine. Yucca juice is used for the production of hormonal medicines. It has a tree-like stem, which branches strongly at the end and forms rosettes of fibrous leaves of a light green color. The ends of the leaves have a large number of serrations, and the top has a large thorn. Elephant yucca blooms with white flowers with an original yellow edging.
There are quite a few varieties of indoor yucca; you can create an entire home greenhouse from them. Preference should be given to the elephant species, in order to later use it as a remedy.
Yucca home care / yucca plant
Conditions of detention
Yucca, which does not require much effort to care for at home, is distinguished by its unpretentiousness. It takes root well on any type of soil, tolerates small temperature changes and survives even at low air humidity. However, to keep her healthy and beautiful, it is recommended to follow some rules.
The historical homeland of the plant is Central America and Mexico. These regions have a very hot and dry climate, which must be taken into account when growing yucca palm at home. Care, as a rule, does not cause much trouble even for novice gardeners. The plant can withstand even extreme heat, but in this case the room must be regularly ventilated. As for the temperature, the optimal option is 24-26 degrees in summer and about 20 degrees in winter.
Yucca does not tolerate drafts well, so you should not place it on the floor, even if the pot is too large and does not fit on the windowsill. Place a table near the window so that the plant receives sunlight throughout the day. In cold weather, artificial lighting should be provided. LED and fluorescent lamps are best suited for it. At the same time, containers with trees are removed away from the battery.
As for air humidity, it should be at least forty percent. Experts advise placing a humidifier near the plant or spraying it daily with a spray bottle. As for the intensity of irrigation, some nuances need to be taken into account. Among the most important are the age and size of the tree, the volume and material of the pot, as well as the average temperature and humidity in the room.
During the summer, special attention must be paid to care. Firstly, it is advisable to move the yucca to a room in which the temperature is constantly between 17 and 19 degrees, and secondly, it needs to be watered at least once a week. For this, it is better to use distilled or settled water. At the same time, it is important not to flood the trees too much, since an excessive amount of moisture can lead to rotting of the root system. In addition, failure to comply with the watering regime will negatively affect the appearance of the leaves and the decorative appearance of the palm tree. As for spraying, they are not needed. Periodically, the plant is wiped from dust or washed in the shower. In the latter case, it is very important to wipe the leaves dry, otherwise they may get burned in direct sunlight.
Tops
If you provide proper care at home, yucca will grow and develop well. If desired, you can also ensure that the plant has several tips that can be used for propagation. The upper part is carefully cut off. In this case, there must be leaves on it.
The cut area is treated with charcoal. After some time, young shoots should appear on it, and the top is used as a false tree. After harvesting, the cut part is kept in fresh air for two hours, after which it is placed in water or moistened sand. In the first case, the liquid must be boiled and cooled. As soon as the root system is formed in the lower part, the top can be transplanted into a pot or open ground. If during germination the leaves begin to rot, they are removed and the substrate is replaced with fresh one.
Yucca varieties
Two types of crops are classified - tree-like and stemless. The peculiarity of the first is a long trunk with rosettes and fluffy foliage; in the second case, the rosette is the top (crown) of the plant.
Elephant Yucca
In open ground, the height of the trunk reaches 10 m; elephant yucca also grows in indoor pots. The culture is used in industry - ropes are made from fibers; in medicine - the juice is the basis for hormonal preparations.
Aloe leaf yucca
The absence of side shoots, long leaves collected in 2-3 rosettes are the distinctive features of the plant. Narrow leaves can be cut, the flower is picky about the watering regime. If maintenance and care are not maintained, it quickly dies. In favorable conditions, lush rosettes are obtained that look very beautiful.
filamentous yucca
The peculiarity of the flower is its bluish-green leaves, which are pubescent along the edges with the finest curled threads. Filamentous yucca grows up to 2 m and tolerates drought and hot climates well. It is a flowering species, the panicle-shaped peduncles with yellowish-white flowers fall off, leaving round fruits.
Advice! The species is distinguished by its high growth rate - the flower requires a large pot.
Indoor yucca
An ornamental plant that produces white flowers every 5-7 years. It looks like a palm tree up to 4 m high. The variety requires care, but tolerates heat and drought well. Experienced plant growers immediately place the seedling in a spacious pot, taking into account a permanent place - high ceilings will come in handy here. For an adult plant, you need a tub of 10-15 liters.
The leaves are of a linear type, a rosette bunch is collected at the top; with good care, the color of the leaves does not change during the winter - this is an evergreen plant.
Yucca gray
Compared to others, this is a low-growing variety - the trunk height is no more than 2 m. A distinctive feature is the bluish color of the leaves, which are collected in a compact rosette up to 0.9 m wide. The leaves are leathery, up to 60 cm long, with clear fibers that peel along edges.
The blue-gray yucca blooms beautifully - in summer it produces a meter-high panicle with a huge number of creamy-white flowers with a brown or green tint.
This is not a palm tree
If the plant's foliage from the lower tiers dries out and falls off, the yucca is very reminiscent of a palm tree with a bare, woody trunk and a bunch of hard leaves at the top.
However, it is incorrect to consider this crop, which belongs to the agave family, as a palm tree. Yucca has dense, pointed, lanceolate leaves that stick out in different directions or slightly droop. The edges of the leaf blades are covered with long, stiff hairs. In nature, the length of such a leaf can reach up to a meter; among indoor residents, the leaves are more modest and often do not grow more than 50 cm. But indoor yucca leaves can be not only green, but also variegated, decorated with bright yellow or white stripes.
Yucca blooms amazingly beautifully, throwing out powerful vertical peduncles strewn with a mass of buds. The flowers resemble white, yellowish or pinkish bells. Getting into the house as a fairly small plant, in a few years yucca turns into a large bush or tree that requires special treatment and care.
Yucca grows into several trunks
Leaves turn yellow and dry
An adult plant takes up a lot of space and sometimes becomes cramped in the room. If you do not give it the attention that is necessary for a large plant, then problems with its health will begin.
The leaves will begin to turn yellow and dry, and then fall off, which can lead to the death of the entire plant.
What are the causes of this disease and how to get rid of it, the following explanations will help:
- Insufficient lighting. In order for yucca to develop normally, it needs a powerful source of light, but not direct, but diffused. The plant must be moved to a more illuminated room and illuminated with an artificial lamp.
- Excessive watering. The yucca trunk is capable of accumulating moisture because the root system is rather weak, so it has to “drink in reserve.” Yucca does not like cold water; it should be at room temperature.
- Sudden changes in temperature. After summer, you should not suddenly place the plant in a room with low temperatures. It is necessary to gradually reduce it from the beginning of autumn, moving the pot to cooler rooms before placing it on a glassed-in veranda or loggia for the winter.
- Various parasites. They can be found in flowers and leaves. The palm tree must be treated with any suitable insecticide.
- Natural rejuvenation of the plant. Yucca undergoes natural chemical processes aimed at rejuvenating the plant. The palm tree will lose a few leaves and everything will stop there, the leaves will stop turning yellow.
If you place yucca in a cool room, its leaves will begin to curl, and their edges will turn brown and dry out. Due to excessive watering, the roots may rot. The plant must be removed from the pot, cut off the rotten roots, dried and treated with crushed coal. Then place the plant in a new substrate with drainage and do not water for several days.
YUCCA MAYA home care / Yucca ivory
